In the current plans, greenery only in traces

Currently, there are two detailed regulation plans that include green areas in their coverage, as well as an urban project for a park that is on public presentation. In that name, we decided to make a brief overview of how and according to which principles the planning of green areas in Belgrade is approached. Although it was adopted back in 2019, the Plan for the General Regulation of the Belgrade Green Area System is often not respected during further planning, which does not surprise us much, bearing in mind that this item was adopted as orientational, and no binding, although this plan is of crucial importance for improving the quality of the environment in the city.

How is greenery planned as part of public services?

Detailed regulation plan for part of the block along Braće Jerković Street, foresees 5.000 square meters of residential and business space as well as a traffic area in the place where the PGR of the Green Area System of Belgrade foresees green areas in public services. Therefore, not a single intervention foreseen in the plan is aimed at raising the quality of the environment, nor does it contribute to the quality of life of the children from the Jovan Jovanović Zmaj home, which is stated in the textual part of the plan as one of the general goals. It is interesting that in November of last year, a plan for a part of the same block along Zaplanjska Street, which provided for the construction of a pre-school institution, was found at an early public inspection, but the opportunity was perfidiously used to convert part of the green area into mixed city centers, which would enable the construction of 15.000 square meters of residential and business complex. In both cases, the orderers of the plan are private companies, although the dominant functions are public service and green areas, i.e. functions of general interest, and as such they should be planned integrally and with the mandatory participation of the public. Instead, investors are allowed to change the uses of the areas in accordance with their interests and to incorporate into the plans squares from which only they have some benefit, which leads to the large green area that should be intended for children from home and preschool institution, as well as the wider community that uses this space, "squeezes" wherever it can (and according to the higher-order plans that should represent the basis - it should not be able to at all) commercial spaces and unaffordable residential square meters. 

How is greenery planned in the central city zone?

The area around the Sava Amphitheater has the highest number of tropical nights during the year, since throughout the history of Belgrade's development, it has always been deprived of large green areas, especially those in direct contact with the ground. The Bristol Park Urban Project plans to occupy 70% of the park's surface with an underground garage, which means that most of the park will be green in planters and pots, which compared to green areas that are in direct contact with the ground, have much less potential when it comes to absorbing water during heavy rainfall, improving air quality and reducing heat island effects. Since the entire area is defined by an urban matrix of densely built high-rise buildings, which adversely affect air flow and heat retention in the environment, well-planned greenery could play an important role in regulating the microclimate of this zone. Despite the fact that this is a very important decision, which concerns many, it is made through an urban project, which means that there is almost no space left for the inclusion of citizens in the decision-making process, since the presentation itself lasts only 7 days and does not provides for a public discussion before adoption.

How is greenery planned in the outer city zones?

Peripheral city zones are often richer in greenery compared to the central ones, however, the trend of uncontrolled city expansion adversely affects the urban structure of these zones, so greenery is often replaced by concrete. Detailed regulation plan for the part of the block between the streets Miloš Bradić, Bahtijar Vagabzada, Baštovanska, Paunova, Josip Slavenski and Plitvička, includes the area between the Miljakovačka and Bajford forests, and the greenery that he perceives as unbuilt plans to replace the area with 130.000 square meters of built-up area for housing and business, while greenery is planned exclusively in the regulation of traffic roads. The preservation, protection and improvement of forests are essential for Belgrade because they provide numerous ecological, economic and social benefits for the city's residents. This includes managing forests in a way that maximizes their benefits to the community, as well as establishing new forests to conserve natural resources. The area for which this plan is adopted also falls within the scope of PPPPN Avala-Kosmaj.

What do citizens know that the city government does not?

It is a fact that not all green areas are equally well arranged and preserved, and that they are often made up of a pile of unmanageable undergrowth. However, the solution to this is not the construction of those locations, but their planning and arrangement in a way that would ensure accessibility and multifunctionality, through an analysis of the needs of the narrow and wider local community. A public opinion survey conducted by the Ministry of Space in 2021 shows that 47% of citizens believe that environmental protection, which includes increasing the number of green areas, should be a priority in the future development of the city, right after traffic. Also, 52% of those surveyed mostly or completely agreed with the statement that the city is developing in accordance with the private interests of the powerful, as well as that the city is developing unevenly. Green infrastructure is one of the foundations of a healthy city, but it cannot be developed independently of transport, social, economic and other policies. This is precisely why it is important to plan the city integrally, and not according to the particular interests of investors.